A play called ‘The Gospel according to Jesus, Queen of Heaven’, performed in a Manchester C of E church and portraying Jesus as a transgender woman who refers to God as ‘mum’, has been called a sacrilegious effort to promote homosexuality. The play is a one-woman show performed by Jo Clifford, an acclaimed Scottish playwright and professor who has changed gender from male to female. Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, said that an artistic performance offensive to Christians does not of itself amount to grounds for seeking to prevent it taking place. Former Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd. Michael Nazir-Ali, said, ‘It is clear from the Gospels that the identity of Jesus is male, his ‘mum’ is Mary, and he always refers to God as 'Father', so to suggest otherwise is contrary to Christian teaching.’ See also: